Direct Rail Services once again have the contract to provide train crew and motive power for the seasonal Rail Head Treatment Trains in East Anglia. Based at Stowmarket and spread over five diagrams, four loco hauled trains (each carrying 85,000 litres of water) will be using a combination of high powered water canons and the application of sandite (a thick sand based paste that improves adhesion) to improve the rail surface. This work in the autumn months is vital to ensure the first passenger trains each day can begin journeys with no delays. So far this year, Stowmarket has been host to: 20301, 20304, 20305, 37059, 37069, 37601, 37604, 37608, 57003, 57007, 57012, 66420 and 66426.
This collection will be updated on a regular basis showing the trains over the coming months.
October 7th – Recently released from Arlington Fleet Services’ Eastleigh Works in a fresh coat of DRS compass blue, 20304 runs nose first past Thrandeston, south of Diss, returning to ‘Cannon Control’ at Stowmarket having been turned on the triangle at Norwich. The leaf fall trains are due to start next week.
October 28th – 20305 and 20304 approach Westerfield with 3W95 Ipswich – Lowestoft, part of the anti-clockwise East Suffolk RHTT.
October 28th – 20305 and 20304 coast to a stop at Westerfield station. All trains joining the East Suffolk line here at required to stop and obtain a token for the RETB signaling system.
October 28th – Having obtained the token for the East Suffolk line, 20305 and 20304 power up the bank from Westerfield toward Woodbridge.
October 28th – Having traversed the East Suffolk line to Lowestoft, 20304 is seen leading 20305 past Brundall with 3W96 to Norwich.
October 28th – 20305 on the rear of 3W96 as the train powers off towards Norwich.
October 28th – 66420 and 66426 are seen at Thurston with 3S63 Colchester – Norwich via Ely.
October 28th – 20304 and 20305 pass through Stowmarket station with 3W98, to access the yard via the south crossovers.
October 28th – Yes, it was dark, but still. 57003, 57007 and 37601 return home at Stowmarket with 6Z21 from Norwich Crown Point.
October 28th – A speedy turnaround at Stowmarket was needed as the 57s were then to work 3S10, the Shenfield, Southend and Romford night time RHTT.
November 25th – 66426 trails 66420 past Lancasters Crossing, Stowmarket, with 3S63 Colchester – Norwich via Ely.
November 25th – 57003 leads 57012 past Lancasters Crossing, Stowmarket, with a very early 6Z21 Norwich Crown Point – Stowmarket.
November 25th – 57003 and 57012 viewed inside Stowmarket Yard off 6Z21.
November 25th – 20305 has been out of service for several days, and is seen stabled right against the stops on road 1 at Stowmarket.
December 4th – The final weeks of the campaign are here again. 37059 and 37601 are seen running into Ipswich station to reverse and head to Lowestoft.
December 4th – 37601 prepares to head up the East Suffolk line to Lowestoft.
December 4th – 37059 tails the ensemble on the ‘Up and Down Lowestoft’.
December 4th – 66420 and 66426 head through Ipswich with their usual turn to Shenfield.
December 4th – 66426 powering on the rear of 3S60.
December 4th – The 66s are seen heading back north through Ipswich for Norwich.
December 4th – Catching the last of the sun down through Ipswich.
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